(a)  The Department of Health Care Access and Information shall report to the Legislature on or before June 30, 2002, on the feasibility of establishing a California dental loan forgiveness program utilizing the same general guidelines applicable to the federal National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program (42 U.S.C.A. Sec. 254q-1; 42 C.F.R., Part 62, Subpart C (commencing with Section 62.51)), except as follows:

(1)  A dentist shall be eligible to participate in the loan forgiveness program if they provide full-time or half-time dental services in either of the following:

(A)  A dental health professional shortage area (DHPSA), established pursuant to Section 254e(a) of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(B)  An area of the state where unmet priority needs for dentists exist as determined by the department.

(2)  Matching funds to repay a portion of the dentist’s outstanding loan amount shall be required from the practice site areas or from other private nonprofit sources.

(3)  A qualifying practice site shall include a private dental practice.

(b)  (1)  The report required under subdivision (a) shall include all of the following:

(A)  A projection of the dentist-to-population ratio for California in the next decade.

(B)  A determination of the future need for dentists and dental care in underserved communities. The department shall work collaboratively with organizations that represent providers of dental services to underserved communities in making this determination.

(C)  A report on the utilization by dentists of tuition loan repayment programs at the federal and state level and identify the barriers to full utilization of these loan repayment programs.

(D)  A report on the projected cost increase of dental school education at public and private postsecondary educational institutions.

(E)  A report on the implications of administering an additional program, including a cost analysis.

(2)  The report also shall include recommendations on whether a program described in subdivision (a) should be established and, if so, suggested funding sources. In making its recommendations, the department shall consider the impact of the program on access to dental services in areas of the state that currently have a shortage of dentists.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 143, Sec. 128. (AB 133) Effective July 27, 2021.)